Lots of people struggle to conceive a child. It seems to be an increasing issue and is devastating. There are things that one can do to help their chances of conceiving.

One very prominent one, which is an issue for the majority of the Western world, is weight. Over two thirds of Americans are overweight. Being overweight can cause fertility issues as well as numerous health issues including when one does get pregnant. You are more likely to get gestational diabetes and complications with the pregnancy. Also becoming healthy is a good thing to do before you have a child because every parent wants to instil good eating and lifestyle habits into their children. If you do this first, you will have less trouble getting your child to follow along.

So the best way to give yourself a better chance of conceiving is to lose weight.

There are many ways you can do this and you may have already tried but failed. The number one reason why people fail to lose weight is because they fail to plan. You have to make a plan with weight loss, as planning helps keep you on track and help you work consciously through breaking habits that have been instilled in your over years. You can’t change automatic almost unconscious habits without first being conscious of them and working hard to overcome them. This involves planning. Once you have broken them and instilled new healthier habits you will have no problems and won’t need a plan anymore.

The first thing to do to create your plan is to spend some time in observation. You need to know what changes you need to make and you can’t do that without knowing exactly what eating and drinking habits you currently have. Spend 2-3 days on this. Once you have written down everything you eat and drink you can get a clear indication of things you can cut straight away out of your diet and things you can work on. You will also need to work out how many calories you are overeating on. This isn’t a difficult task with free websites such as fitday.com out there.

With this information it should be very easy to start making a plan to lose weight. Try not to make too many drastic changes that will leave you vulnerable to bingeing and going back to old habits. Instead take small steps and go at a pace you feel comfortable at. Maybe add something in new each month. Do not under estimate the power of small changes – many people make one or 2 minor changes to their diet and find that they lose pounds very easily. One such way is to cut out soda and juices that are giving you extra calories with little to no nutritional value. Stick to water and tea and you won’t have to worry about extra calories. This can have a dramatic effect if you drink a lot of empty-calorie beverages. Of course though, if it is the only change you make you won’t lose all the extra weight you are carrying, but it is a step in the right direction.

Other things you can do to help lose weight include incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. This is also a great thing to do if you are trying to conceive, as fruits and vegetables contain numerous vitamins, minerals and nutrients. A great way to help you get more into your diet is to eat fruit before every meal and to try to get in a large salad full of veggies. The best way to get the salad in is to mix it in with one of your meals and stick with vegetables you enjoy. Fruits and vegetables are very important to anyone’s diet but especially if you are trying to conceive. If you add more in now you will also be able to set a good example for your children.
If you follow these tips you will have a good start to your weight loss and this will help you conceive. Of course though diet is only one aspect of an overall greater picture. You also have to consider exercise, which is more important than most people realise. Try to get in daily exercise but if necessary work up to it. Exercise doesn’t have to be dull either – in fact if you don’t enjoy it don’t do it. Always find something you enjoy. You could try different classes out to find something that fits you. You could also go for walks, a run, cycle or numerous other things. The key is to enjoy it – that is what life is all about after all. If you are completely new to movement of any type build up so you can make this a real lifestyle change. You could start with once a week and build up to daily from there. Do what you are comfortable with and don’t discredit simple things like cleaning and dancing around the house.

Besides exercise and diet, it is also good to ensure that you try to minimize stress in your life, especially if you are trying to conceive. Stress is a factor often overlooked but is unfortunately a huge part of many people’s life. If you have a stressful job make time to distress after work, learn how to deal with stress more effectively while working or quit and find a less stressful job. Try to work on family relationships if these are strained too as these can often be the biggest source of stress and frustration. It is really important that you look after yourself and eradicate stress as much as possible.

Other things to consider when it comes to good health are sleep, fresh air and sunshine. Make sure you get plenty of all 3. Most people tend to slack on getting enough sleep and this can be detrimental in so many ways and can also make stress much harder to cope with. Sunshine is really important – try to get 20 minutes of sunshine on your body a day.

Lastly make sure you are hydrated. If you are overweight it is very likely you are dehydrated and dehydration will leave you feeling very tired. If you want an energy boost, stay hydrated!

Your health is very important when it comes to trying to conceive, so don’t slack on it otherwise you may find it difficult to conceive and keep your baby. Great health is a great thing to pass on and you will happy you overcame your weight issues before having a baby.

Take these tips into account and before you know it you will be off shopping for a baby cot bed and all the baby accessories you need!

Cosleeping with a baby has come under fierce debate in the past few years as more and more parents choose to keep their baby in bed with them instead of separating them and putting them into a different room.

Sleeping in separate places is not only unnatural but it can also be dangerous for your baby. This article goes over 4 benefits to co-sleeping.

1. Babies sleep better and so does mommy too – Does it come to a surprise that if a baby is close to their mother they sleep better? Probably not. When a baby can feel the warmth of their mother they have no reason to jolt out of sleep in a state of panic wondering where she is and fearing for their life. Babies do not know that they are safe in their crib; the only way they know they are safe is to feel the warmth and comfort of their mother or father. Plus a baby before the age of 1 does not have the ability to think that their mother exists someone else. When something is out of sight it is out of mind. So when a baby wakes and their mother is not there they panic. As a result of this they also learn to fear sleep and learn that sleep is a fearful state to be in.

As your baby goes through the various cycles of sleep, when they come back around to the lighter side the warmth, smell and touch of their mother signals that is ok to go back to sleep and they have nothing to worry about. If baby gets hungry they also have the opportunity to gently wake their mother or search for a nipple without too much disruption. A mother is super sensitive to their child and generally when sleeping together baby and mother’s sleep cycles align so that when baby stirs, her/his mother will be aware and be able to attend accordingly without too much disruption to either one’s sleep. When a baby is in another room, neither baby or mother have the luxury or doing this and both are jolted out of sleep completely before they can settle back down. This often disturbs the rest of the household too. It takes a baby longer to settle this way as they are now fully awake and this causes both baby and mother to lose out on quality sleep.

2. Breastfeeding is easier – When you have your baby right next to you, your baby can get your attention by easily making a small murmur as opposed to crying for attention. This can be enough to allow you to roll over and give your baby your breast while you fall back off asleep. Breastfeeding is so much easier this way instead of pulling yourself out of bed and attending your baby, forcing you and your baby to wake up completely. Instead by co-sleeping you can get your baby off to sleep again without them fully awaking in the first place.

3. Allows for bonding when day time bonding isn’t possible – In today’s world many parents find themselves having to work and not be near their babies. In this respect co-sleeping allows parents to reconnect with their baby and get some much needed bonding in. It can help make up for much needed touch time that your baby has missed out on with you.

4. Reduces Risks of SIDs – Research shows that babies that sleep close to their parents are less likely to die from SIDs. SIDs is a rare issue so should not be your only reason for co-sleeping.

Co-sleeping has many benefits for both baby and mother but isn’t for everyone. Some people just do not get along with co-sleeping. Keeping baby in the same room close by in a baby cot bed is an alternative option and is much better than keeping them in a different room.

Being a green parent doesn’t have to be a difficult thing to do. Going green can be extremely rewarding and knowing that you are making a difference in the world that you are bringing your child up in can be hugely rewarding.

However having a child also comes with its issues when it comes to going green. Diapers, baby wipes, toys and clothing all can contribute to the impact you have on the earth. You can minimize this impact with some changes – you just have to be willing to do so.

Below are 6 things you can do to minimize your impact on the earth and reduce the waste you accumulate.

1. Switch To Cloth Diapers or Try Elimination Communication – there has been many a debate about the environmental impact of not only disposables but also cloth diapers. However despite the debate, cloth diapers are not filling up landfills like disposables are, so cloth are definitely are a better option in this respect. Cloth diapers can also be used long after your baby has outgrown them, as rags or mop up cloths around the house. They can also be used for subsequent babies so you get good use out of the materials you have bought.

Baby wipes are also filling up landfills and clogging toilets. You could also try using cloth baby wipes as well. You can also make your own solution to wipe your baby too and this will help your baby’s delicate skin avoid harsh chemicals that are found in most baby wipes.

Another alternative to using diapers is elimination communication. Elimination communication is about reading your baby and looking for signs and cues that let you know when they need to use the toiler. You can then hold them over a potty, bath, toilet. Elimination communication is a great way to feel even closer to your child as you learn their cues however it is a huge commitment. There will also be accidents but you will save on not having to buy diapers. Some parents use these techniques in conjunction with cloth diapers when they are out.

2. Expose Your Children To Nature – One of the best ways to get children enthusiastic about the planet is to teach them about nature and get them in it as much as possible. You can take your children on nature walks and teach them about different animals and plants. You can show them how to forage and show them what plants are edible. You can also grow your own fruit and vegetables and get your kids involved. Maybe they can even have their own patches and little projects to work on. There is nothing better than growing your own and tasting the end result. Many children these days do not know much about their natural environment so teaching kids about it is really important in order to ensure a better future.

3. Lighten The Load – For many parents the laundry pile can seem like it never ends. One of the best things you can do for the environment is to try and cut down your laundry pile. A great way to do this is to make sure you and your children get the most out of their clothes before they go in the laundry pile. Try avoiding putting clothes into the hamper after one use, as it really doesn’t need a wash that soon. Also try to only do full loads to get maximum efficiency from your washing machine. If your clothes aren’t soiled then try using cold water if possible, as it is unnecessary to use hot if your clothes are relatively fine anyway. Also try to avoid using a tumble dryer and opt for air drying instead. This is of course much easier to do in the summer than winter.

4. Recycle & Reuse – Instead of buying new clothes constantly and new stuff opt for second hand things instead. Many parents want to give their babies the best and they think that this means brand new. It doesn’t. You can provide your baby with everything they need by buying second hand. This will not only save you money but is much better for the environment.

Also once your baby outgrows their clothing, either keep them for the next baby or give them away so they can be recycled by others. You could even try selling your items on a website like ebay if you are short on money.

5. Change Your Light Bulbs – Instead of using the traditional incandescent light bulb switch to fluorescent/eco-friendly bulbs. They do cost a little more but they last a lot longer than traditional bulbs and also use less energy.

6. Turn It Off – The standby light of electrical equipment is a complete waste of electricity. Instead of leaving your appliances on standby all night to consume energy that is unnecessary, turn the appliance off at the plug socket. By turning it off when not in use thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide could be kept out of the air every year. To make things easier you could plug all appliances into a multi-socket making it easier to turn all appliances off at once.

These 6 things are a great starting point for changing your life and being less wasteful but there are also many other things you can do too. Take it slow and don’t overwhelm yourself. Going green is very rewarding to your and the planet.

Green parenting doesn’t have to be a nuisance and can be easy to incorporate into your life. There are many things that you can do to make a difference to the planet and the environment that you bring your children up in.

The best approach is to make small changes so that they can become lifestyle habits for the long term. Small changes can have a huge impact so don’t feel like you are doing nothing.

This article gives you a few ideas of what you can do to be a greener parent.

Breastfeed For As Long As You Can – Breastfeeding is an important activity for the physical and emotional health of your baby. It creates a deeper and greater bond between you and your child and provides them with the best start in life. The WHO recommends breastfeeding for the first 2 years but it is better to continue until your child weans themselves. Although many people will say there isn’t a benefit to doing so but there is. Not only for a child’s emotional development but also because studies are now showing that many immune factors that a baby gets from breastmilk increases in concentration in the 2nd year. A child’s immune system doesn’t fully develop until around the age of 6 so providing the best nutrition and support possible is only possible through breastfeeding for as long as possible.

Breastfeeding not only is great for your child’s emotional and physical well being but also is great for the environment as doesn’t involve bottles or using electricity.

Elimination Communication or Cloth Diapers – Elimination communication is a toilet training method used from the moment a baby is born. One takes cues from their baby in order to learn when a baby needs to go and this enables one to get them to use a potty by holding them over it instead of using diapers. Elimination communication thus is the best solution for the environment. There is no need to buy cloth diapers and use electricity and water to continue to wash them and there is also no need to buy disposables that get dumped into landfills.

Elimination communication can also be done on full time, part time or occasionally but does require a big commitment from parents in order to make it work. It can be a great way to feel closer to your child as you learn to read your baby’s subtle signals.

Alternatively though if this isn’t a method you want to use, cloth diapers are a good secondary alternative. Many people who practise elimination communication often do so in conjunction with using cloth diapers. Cloth diapers these days are extremely easy to use as well and often mimic the way a disposable is. There are many types you can use and you will need to do your research in order to determine which one is best for you and your baby.

Eat More Raw – Another way to be kinder to the environment and to your body is to eat more raw foods and cook less. Eating plenty of fresh fruits throughout the day can sustain you clean easily digestible energy. Make sure you also eat lots of vegetables too. Fruits and vegetables are great for your body and as a society we do not eat anywhere near enough. So eat up and see how much better you feel. A baby can give you great motivation to do this, as we all want our children to have a healthy natural diet.

Use Green Cleaning Products – Conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that are hazardous to our health and can pollute our living environment. One such substance that is found in shampoos is sodium lauryl sulphate that is associated with diseases such as cancer and nervous system problems.

Babies do not really need anything more than water to clean them and there are plenty of organic alternatives that are free from nasty chemicals. Organic products are more expensive upfront but tend to last a lot longer than the cheap alternative that can damage your health.

There are many alternatives you can use when cleaning your house as well. Lemon juice, white vinegar, bicarbonate soda and Epsom salts are all great alternatives to conventional cleaning products. You can also buy eco friendly products in store if you are not comfortable with using bicarbonate of soda or lemon juice. There are also some great alternatives for your laundry such as soap nuts and eco balls.

Recycle Your Clothing & Buy Second Hand – Instead of just chucking your clothing out, if it can be used again recycle it. There are many charities that continuously want clothing so this isn’t a hard thing to do. It is also a great idea to buy clothing second hand too. Sites like ebay.com give you a great chance to get clothing second hand for very cheap. This can be a great alternative and a better alternative for the environment if you are unable to afford organic cotton.

If you do choose to buy new it is a good idea to avoid acrylic, polyester, nylon and rayon.

Buy & Use Wooden Toys – Plastic toys and toys that contain batteries can contain harmful materials that can cause damage to your baby’s health. It is best to avoid them altogether and buy natural wooden toys. These are also a better alternative as they stimulate a child’s imagination much better than a brightly colored plastic toy.

Children also love mimicking their parents, so giving pots and pans is also another alternative to buying new pans and a child usually gets much more fun out of it too.

Get Outside & Use The Natural Environment – One of the best ways to care for the environment is to get out into it. You gain a better appreciation and also can gain great satisfaction for it. Children can learn lots. You can take them on nature walks and teach them about foraging and different plants and animals. You can also use your garden to grow your own and teach children where their food comes from. Gardening can also be very therapeutic and nothing beats the taste of home grown fruits and vegetables.

Approach Your Health Naturally – If possible try to avoid using prescription drugs and over the counter drugs as much as possible. Instead if you get a headache or get hurt, make sure you get plenty of fluids and you rest. Lie down if necessary and sleep. When we take drugs to dull or take away the pain we continue to go about life when really we should be listening to our bodies outcry and resting.

It is also important to let your children play and get dirty. There have been studies to show you can be too clean and an immune system needs to have some exposure in order to develop effectively.

This article gives you a few examples of things you can do to be a green parent. There are many more but this will get your started to becoming a greener parent.

Many people, when they find out that they are going to become a parent, consider the world they want their children to be brought up in. It is at this point that many people consider the impact they have on the environment and what excessive purchasing, wastage and harmful substances not only do to the environment but to their health and the health of their children.

Thinking about the environment means looking at what one spends money on when it comes to children. Diapers, clothing, bedding and also nursery furniture and all considerations of an eco-friendly upbringing. When one first starts looking at these things in detail, it can be surprising to find that there are a lot of potentially hazardous issues. This article is going to talk about nursery furniture and nursery materials and their potential hazard to the health of your baby and the environment and what to look for instead.

First of all when it comes to the nursery there are many things one wants to do with it; paint it, put in new flooring and clean it. Carpets, paint and cleaning products all can emit toxic fumes called volatile organic compounds of which some are carcinogenic and can irritate the lungs and thus one’s breathing. Children are much more susceptible to toxins then adults as their lungs are smaller and they also breathe much faster. Babies are even more susceptible especially as their lungs are much smaller and haven’t developed as far as a child’s or adult’s. Their immune and nervous system are only in the early stages of development. They also breathe faster. As a result they inhale more toxins than adults do and have much smaller bodies. This is also a caution for pregnant women, as inhalation of toxins can also affect the baby.

First of all one will want to paint the nursery and many people leave to the last minute. If you are going to paint the nursery it is best to do it as soon as you can and ventilate it well. If you are pregnant this is a job best left to someone else to be extra safe. When painting you need to give at least a month or so for the room to properly air before putting your baby in there. The longer you leave a room to dry and let the paint settle the better. It is also best to avoid conventional paint and look for eco friendly paints and ones low in VOCs. You could also try looking for milk or natural paints. There are also paints that are completely VOC free and thus do not emit any fumes. These are well worth looking for to be extra safe.

Besides paint there is also the floor to contend with. Carpet is far from ideal when it comes to toxins and being green. New carpet will emit VOCs and with its flame-resistant properties will also add more toxins into the mix. Carpets can also trap in dust, mold and pesticides and your baby will be crawling on it and be very close to it. Carpet is best avoided but there are some great alternative carpets such as cork or bamboo that you could use without the toxic issues. If you do not like the idea of a bamboo or cork carpet then wood flooring is the better option. You can also use natural rugs on the floor for particular areas to add some cosiness and make it softer for your moving baby.

Lastly there is the issue of furniture.  You have to buy a wardrode, a baby cot bed, maybe a baby changing unit.   Many people do not think that furniture could possibly admit toxins – I didn’t at one point. However if you are buying cheap MDF/chipboard style furniture, this type of furniture usually contains formaldehydes that can be hazardous to health. Avoid them at all costs and only go for furniture that is formaldehyde free or solid wood. Second hand is a good choice as this has a lower impact on the environment but whether you buy new or second hand make sure you are getting a quality product and one made of solid wood.

These are the 3 key components of a nursery and should be considered careful in order to protect the health of your baby and the environment.

Being a “green parent” has been growing in popularity over the past few years as people become more conscious of their impact on the environment and their overall health.

Many parents want to bring up a child in a safe environment and want to be able to provide for them without having a huge impact on the environment they live in.

Green parenting can encompass a whole host of issues, which are not only exclusively related to material objects. A great place to have a “green clean” is your baby’s nursery. Of course one of the best things you can do for the environment and for your baby is to co-sleep. This not only provides extra bonding time between parent and child but also creates a safer and more comfortable environment for a baby. A baby wants to be close to their mother to ensure that they are safe and loved. This way also you avoid all the common toxins associated with the nursery.

However if you do decide that you want a nursery for your child there many things you need to consider that most people overlook and do not realize could be a health hazard.

Paint – Most people paint their nursery, however paint can be high in Volatile Organic Compounds, which pollute the air and can be harmful to your baby and you. Many people also paint just before their baby is born and the paint does not have a proper chance to fully air. At least a month is needed for this. Instead of using standard paint, if you want to paint the nursery look for eco-friendly paints, natural paints, milk paints or ones low in VOCs.

Flooring – Not only do people give their baby’s nursery a lick of paint, they also tend to change the flooring. New carpet can be toxic too. They can contain endocrine disruptors, which can cause birth defects, imbalances in the body’s natural chemical processes and a whole host of issues. Carpet also contains brominated flame retardants, which can also be hazardous to health. Instead of using carpet, linoleum and vinyl try going with wood or an eco-friendly material such as bamboo or cork.

Furniture – Many people want to buy brand new things but this isn’t good for the environment. Instead it is much better to opt for second hand goods. However even with second hand goods make sure that the product is made from quality solid wood and avoid cheap pressed-wood products as this contain adhesives that can cause rashes, breathing issues and headaches. Avoid the cheap options if you opt for new too and look for furniture that is from a sustainable source.  This is easy to do these days as, for example, there are many beautiful solid wood items such as a baby cot bed that you can buy at a reasonable price for your baby.

Bedding – Bedding is also an important factor to consider when dressing a nursery. Try to go with organic cotton or wool when it comes to the mattress, as non-organic materials can contain high levels of chemicals that are harmful to one’s health. Going organic will mean you avoid harmful chemicals, pesticides and dyes.

Toys – When filling your baby’s nursery with toys it is much better to buy wooden toys or toys made from organic cotton or material. Plastic toys can contain phthalates that are harmful to one’s health and have a huge impact on the environment.

Diapers and Clothing – Besides nursery considerations, how you dress your baby can also affect the environment and your baby’s health. In order to be more environmentally conscientious, cloth diapers (particularly organic) can be a great alternative to disposables. There are also many health benefits to your child for using them too. An even better option to cloth diapers is the concept of elimination communication. This means your baby will be diaper free and you learn to be aware of cues from your baby that let you know they need to urinate or not. This isn’t an option for everyone, as it requires a huge level of commitment that many people simply do not have.

As for clothing, buying second-hand or/and buying organic can both be a great way to help the environment and to give your child clothing that free from chemicals and hazardous substances.